The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star medal to CMSgt. Paul Wheeler, the command chief for the Air Force District of Washington, headquartered at Andrews AFB, Md. Wheeler received the award for his actions while deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, where he served as command chief to some 26,000 airmen at five major bases throughout Iraq. (AFDW photo release by SrA. Melissa Stonecipher)
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.